Ditch guard



Jan. 22,V 1929,

M. 'wYcKoFF DITCH GUARD Filed Aug. 7, 1926 Patented Jan. 272, 1929.

UNITED' t STATES Munito wrcnorr, or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

BITCH GUARD.

Application led August 7, 1926. Seria1 No. 127,750.

This invention relates to `devices for eX- cluding fish from a ditch, orthe like, through which water is conveyed from a running stream for irrigating, power developing and other purposes.

It is recognized that the loss of fish, by being carried away in ditches has, in some districts, become a most serious problem; so serious, in fact that if not overcome threatens the'very existence of the shing industry. The passing away of some of the better varieties of salmon, in the `States of Washington and Oregon, for example, is, in a large measure attributed to ditch losses. Comparatively few of the fish going into ditches hitherto have been utilized for food; the major `p0rtion-both of large and small iish-being used either for land fertilizing or allowed-to go to waste@ The object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus which will permit ditches to be supplied with water unaccompanied by fish.

`Another object is the provision of apparatus the parts of which are constructed and arranged to free itself of trash or other floating material tending to obstruct the passage of water into a ditch.

Another object is to provide apparatus which is adapted to be regulated to control the eifective action of the stream of supply water with respect to the apparatus. Y

More specific objects and advantages of the invention will appearin the following description.

The invention consists of certain features of construction, and in the novel adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view shown somewhat diagrammatically, of ditch guarding devices embodying my invention, shown applied to the inlet of a ditch. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a guard unit, in its preferred construction, a portion of the frame being shown in section. Fig. S is a plan view,

of Fig. 2, parts beingbrolen away and showing parts in horizontal section. Fig. 4 1s a detail Atransverse section of the upper portion ofFig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating certain parts shown in Fig. 4.

Referring first to Fig. l, the numeral 10 represents a stream of water the direction of `travel being toward the right hand in the `eral gate posts extend into holes 19 (see Fig.

, ,i 1,699,828 `Parri-:rrr OFFICE. i

view. 11 represents a ditch whose entrance in the stream banlr is usually provided with side walls 12 and alfloor 13of cement concrete, wood or other suitable material.

A guard constituting the present invention and denoted generally by the letter Gis provided at the ditch' entrance between the walls ,i

12 thereof. y y

Said guard consists of one or more units according to the width of the ditch. As best represented in Figs. 2 and 3, a guard unit consists of a rectangular rigid frame coinposed of vertical end elements 14 and horizontal top and bottom elements 15 and 16, respectively. Within said frame is a series of gates 17, each formed of a metal plate, prefl erably, secured at Vone of its side edges to a vertical post 18. The lower ends of the sev- 2) provided therefor in the lower frame element 16, their upper ends extending through openings, such as slots*20, provided in one side of the upper element 15 of the frame.

The holes 19 and slots 20 above referred to are disposed in horizontally spaced apart relations in the respective frame elements so that the posts will be held in vertical planes,

or nearly so; and in such horizontal relation with each other that the free side of each gate will be lapped slightly past the post edge of the next gate when the gates are in the normal positions in which they are represented by full lines in Fig. 3. The overlapmg portions of the gates are held in spaced apart relation with each other as by means of stluds 172 provided upon the respective' gate p ates.

The upper ends of the posts, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, are retained within the respective frame slots 2O by being engaged in hook attachments 21of the frame; each attachment having, desirably, an end which is turned down, as at 22, to hook over the edge of the frame element 15 opposite to the slotted edge of the latter.

Said attachments 21 are detachably secured by bolts or other suitable means to the frameelement 15; the means shown consisting of U-shaped clips. More specifically, each clip is formed with a central shank 23 (Fig. 4) rotatable in elongated holes 24 and 25 provided respectively in an attachment and the frame element 15, and having arms 26 which, by suitably turning the clip, serve to clamp the attachment to theframe. When the arms are brought into register with the .f shown, may advantageously vi holes 24k-25, a `clip may be withdrawn for disengaging an attachment 21 to release thefassociated gate post.

Being thus released, a gate is readily removed :trom the frame by first' swinging its upper end outwardly from the respective slot and then raising the gate to disengage its' a hole ot' neously moved from theiropei'ating position iii'wliiclithey are illustrated full lines Fig'. 3 intothe positions in which they areiiidicated by dotted lines 171 in Fig. 3'.

"The "urpose lof thus` swinging the gates outwar into the stream isto enablelthe lat'- tertoV Wash from the gates any small material collecte'dthereon due to they currents of water going the guard passages into "the itch;

`Under. ordinary conditions, however, theV dowiiiiowibf the stream watei will keep the sinistrs frem `b'onfine @legged bama- Vterial which is drawn against the guard pilates by `currents ofwater passing into the ditch" tlir'oijigli `the passages between the overlapping portions Vof successive plates.

` 'The operating bar 28 may be actuated to control the gates as by means of a second arm Iprovided uponV one ofthe A.gate posts Ylf, Anextension, in the nature of a pipe, not l be applied to tlie-ai'jin A29 to'facilitate t e gate opening movements when the stream current is rapid. 3Q represents a latch pivotally connected as by means of a bolt 31 to the frame and adapted to engage the arm 29 for releasably retaining the gates in their' operating reladons.' l V l At the down stream end of a unit, or a plurality of associated units, there is desirably provided a wing 32 whose function is to retard or otherwise regulate the stream action in front of the guard gates. As sliown,tlie wing 321is formed of a plate element and postelement 181 which latter may joiiijnaledin companion openings 19 and 20 of the frame.

The wing` 32 is connected as at 34 to an end of a rod 35 whose other end is engaged in any one, selectively, ot a plurality of apertures,

" as 36, provided in the frame element 15,

whereby the angular relation of the wingis regulated to suitably control the stream water at the guard. c

f In the operation of my improved guard, water passes in a multiplicity of streams through the narrow passages X obtaining between the successive gates; The gatesare arranged to be in planes almost parallel with the direction ot` the current of the main or supply stream 10 and, in conse uenoe, the weer passte ine the diei is tpeed to pass about the down stream edfres of the gates and is compelled to travel in a direc- Vtiofi opposite 'tothat-fthe main stream when he Pesage@ for t was: Hfieh ,me heb guard are" thiiS 'kept free (if matelrifll, "feu are too small t6 accommodate" there by exclude theel from te@ flitsll i "the operation of the invention will, it is "Wleilaim is l 1- A atstseffrdasepted .t9 be Placed at the entrance ot a dite `ai'd"in ex"` ose'd tela- H .n i i Y. ,im :.wiari ,i tionwith a stream otwater from which `the den isspiiifdfsad. sa@ 'fantasie time?, and@ "Sel-fies 5f Plates 'ipritel ih said fame mspeedweerlegt@ man eff the snpply' stream, nsaid pla,` 'esfliayi'f their aajaentends* aight-1y separate@ and @Rega past eacliiotheigland a "meansopena ly oii'- tested te seid .lates wlieeby th .latas ai@ movablei collectiyely'iijito said 2.: 1h @defeated dfieed in, tiene. 1 wherein the 'plates'are' iIi tien vertel planes, and the PStrea-ni S eff t e. 'inseam rates are" ntetli een' Heated. tothe?. felle fe? @Westlife that@ sli steeiially vertales- 3. Aditch guard comprising a frame, a series of plates provided'in said in mi; 1y @if `the fame s its seppie inea each othennmeansto pivot-ally Cotilii'ct @11 @des @t @eeh Plat@ t0 theseiifin. masas for regeltiils the "Plates lata Selene@ atgllaili relations with the frame. u l

4,- A ditch alla@ celllriisws. a treme, Serie@` Qt Plates Piyidld. 'iff Seid `l?lf-iifii in spaced rsletees Wtt'eaih' te'l". 1011' lfiiflnally of the frame so as lap'p'e each other, means to piyotal connect oii edge @t @settles te?. this 1eme! eed? meins @attested te the affssed ineens fastest: latins di@ Same temere.' @hfetS Sialui tarieeiisly into. SLeQtedeesulai. 11e .tnt'th filename- 5.. A ditch guard coin iisiii l a frame, a

series oflplates, posts riid yYYiti the espec,

es .i. 1., .r .1v int difterent angular relations, selectiyely,

and a Wing element extending in angular relation With the frame at one end thereof.

7. In a ditch guard of the character de scribed, a frame, a Wing member provided at one end of the frame, said Wing member' being pivotally connected to the frame for anguiar adjustments with respect thereto, and

means having'one end thereof connected to other end connected to the frame for securn 10 ing said member in predetermined angular relations With the frame.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 14th day of `J une, 1926.

MUN RO WYCKOFF. 

